Peach Melba

Cheers, it's almost the weekend and I'm about to have me some fun! I finally found my edible flowers, y'all! After patiently waiting until Wednesday, I happily went to the Union Square Farmer's Market and picked up some vibrant babies with Windfall Farms. They have the freshest flowers to work with and ever since they've caught my eye during the start to spring, I've been dying to add them in my practice with plating. Plus, edible flowers can really bring a dish together with its fragrant and earthy qualities. Not to mention how aesthetically sound they are, especially with desserts. 

recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Peach Melba


Ingredients:

Peaches:
1 1/2c water
1 3/4c sugar
1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise
1Tbsp lemon juice
2-3 peaches

Raspberry sauce:
1 1/2c raspberries
1/4c confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 pint of vanilla bean ice cream
Raspberries & peanut granola to garnish.

Directions:

Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and gently heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring saucepan to a boil and let it bubble for 5 minutes. Turn heat down to a fast simmer.

Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them. If not, you can get them out after poaching them. To poach, put peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft. Remove with slotted spoon.

Peel skin off peach halves and let them cool. Be sure to remove stone after. To make raspberry sauce, blend fresh raspberries, confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jar.

To serve, allow 1 -2 peach halves per person alongside with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Spoon raspberry sauce over each.

One of my all-time favorite desserts (originally from France) is the peach melba. The combination with the sweet peach and tartness from the raspberries is a symphony in your mouth. Add in the vanilla ice cream and its oozy, creamy combo will definitely have you feeling some type of way! Instead of doing it the traditional way, like how I used to get it at the retirement home I worked at as a teenager (yup, true story), was a scoop of ice cream, half of a poached peach, and with some drizzling of raspberry sauce. Nothing fancy. And it doesn't need to be. But I have such a passion when it comes to cooking, I'm always trying to elevate dishes to the next level. I even formed my first ice cream quenelle! So here you have it: My deconstructed version of the peach melba dessert. You can download the recipe by clicking on the button above. Got questions or comments? I love hearing from my readers! Write your thoughts down below. I've got some really exciting content coming up for the rest of the summer! And yes, it will include some traveling! Yay! Plus I'll be celebrating my one year anniversary since creating MaQ + Suz, and of course I'll be doing a post on this! Stay tuned...  

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

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Raspberry White Chocolate Scones

Happy First Day of Fall! In honor of my favorite season, I started the morning off right with one of my favorite pastries. Scones! And the ultimate combo: a raspberry white chocolate match made in heaven! These are literally the best scones I've ever made, all thanks to Rock Recipes!

RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE SCONES RECIPE

Hands down the best scones I've ever made! Thanks Rock Recipes!

Prep: 15 mins Cook: 25 mins Total: 40 mins

Ingredients:

    3 cups flour
    ½ cup sugar
    6 tsp baking powder
    ½ tsp salt
    ¾ cup very cold butter, cubed
    6 ounces good quality chopped white chocolate
    2 tbsp lemon juice
    2 tsp vanilla extract
    1 cup milk
    1½ cups frozen raspberries

Instructions

  •     I start these in my food processor because it is so fast but they can be made just as easily in a large bowl by cutting the butter in with a pastry blender or even 2 knifes held between the fingers.
  •     In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  •     Pulse in the cold butter until this mixture resembles a coarse meal. It is very important that pea sized pieces of butter remain in this mixture.
  •     Transfer to a large bowl and toss in the white chocolate.
  •     Mix together the lemon juice, vanilla extract ans milk.
  •     Pour this over the surface of the dry mixture. Toss all together gently with a fork only enough to form a dough ball.
  •     When the flour is almost incorporated, add the frozen raspberries.
  •     Frozen berries work best because they are less delicate and easier to incorporate into the scone dough.
  •     It is important that you work this dough as little as possible or the finished scones will be too dense and heavy.
  •     Roll to 1 inch thickness and cut out scones with biscuit cutter or in triangles with a sharp knife and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
  •     If desired you can brush the tops of the scones with an egg wash of 1 egg beaten together with 1 tbsp water.
  •     You can sprinkle the tops with turbinado sugar if desired but this is, of course, optional.
  •     Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Baking time will vary depending on the size of your biscuit cutter.

Drooling yet? I don't know about y'all but for me, butter is mandatory with scones! So yummy!

I can definitely attest to my hubby's full, content belly. I've already had two with coffee!

What is your favorite kind of scone? Got a killer combination? We'd love to hear about it!

maQ went crazy over the aroma in our apartment. It smells like the most divine bakery right now! Don't you love that after baking? :) We hope, whatever you decide to do to enjoy the first day of Autumn, is a happy, delicious one! We plan to get outside after work! Cheers to the best season!

Love & xx's,

maQ + suz

Friday: Lime Raspberry Flan

You know what's my weakness when it comes to cooking? BAKING! Arrgh! Just thinking about it makes me go, "NO!"

I'm not the type to take measurements very seriously, let alone think like a chemist. All credit goes to my Ma. And she was not a baker. Growing up as a kid, she taught me how to cook with how many pinches of this and how many swirls of that. All of it savory. I'm a firm believer that cooking comes from the heart and soul. A fine dish is made with pure love.

I am not an avid baker, but do try to take time to refine this skill. Because I suck at it! And I most certainly make it with nothing but love! Today's dessert is a lime raspberry flan. The fruity combination is killer in my book. But aesthetically I was very disappointed with myself (Gordon Ramsey you'd spank me so HARD right now!), BUT what's more important is how it tastes. And not to brag, but it is so freaking delicious! I tried following the recipe without using a Thermomix, since I didn't have one, and instead, used a food processor. Let me tell you something. You've got to be reliable in the kitchen! Make it work! I'm happy I did, but next time I make another tart, the presentation must be better. 

Take a look. Pictures and recipe below. Feel free to comment.

Have a lovely weekend!

Love & xx's,

maQ + suz

Lime Raspberry Flan Recipe

  • Shortcrust pastry

  • 260 g plain flour
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar
  • 130 g cold butter, cubed
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 60 g sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • Filling

  • 3 limes, zest and juice
  • 200 g sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 130 g sour cream
  • 20 g corn flour
  • 200 g frozen or fresh raspberries

Do

  1. Pastry; 
  2. Place flour, sugar and butter into Thermo bowl and mix 5 sec/speed 5. 
  3. Add remaining ingredients and mix 10 sec/speed 5. 
  4. Tip out onto floured Silpat mat and press into a disc.
  5. Roll out to fit a 18-20cm flan tin with removable base. Do not trim edges. Place in freezer for at least 30 minutes. 
  6. Preheat oven to 180ºC and blind bake for 20 minutes. Remove baking beans. Trim edges neatly to the rim of the flan tin. Reduce oven temperature to 160ºC. 
  7. Filling; 
  8. Place zest and sugar into Thermo bowl and mill 10 sec/speed 10.
  9. Add remaining ingredients except raspberries and mix 10 sec/speed 5.
  10. Pour filling into pastry shell. Bake for 40 minutes or until custard is just wobbly in centre.

More

Garnish with raspberries and dust with icing sugar and cool completely before serving with ice cream or whipped cream.